Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Infection Alters the Sialome of <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> Ticks During the Earliest Stages of Feeding.

ABSTRACT: Ticks are hematophagous arthropods that transmit a number of pathogens while feeding. Among these is tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a flavivirus transmitted by Ixodes ricinus ticks in the temperate zone of Europe. The infection results in febrile illness progressing to encephalitis and meningitis with a possibility of fatality or long-term neurological sequelae. The composition of tick saliva plays an essential role in the initial virus transmission during tick feeding. Ticks secrete a diverse range of salivary proteins to modulate the host response, such as lipocalins to control the itch and inflammatory response, and both proteases and protease inhibitors to prevent blood coagulation. Here, the effect of viral infection of adult females of Ixodes ricinus was studied

SUBMITTER: Hart CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7041427 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature